Saturday, 22 September 2012

Make do and mend

I am definitely a make do and mend kind of person. I get a real sense of satisfaction in using what we have, especially if I have to be slightly creative about it.

In our garden, the old floorboards and joists which came up in the dining room were used to make vegetable beds, the quarry tiles from the kitchen provide paths between them. The bricks from the back wall which came out were used to edge paths and build a wall in the garden and the stone has been recycled into a dry stone wall. Old paving slabs have been used as retainers and hardcore, and the pallets in which materials were delivered have found a new career as compost heaps.

But just in case I sound too smug or parsimonious, I have to tell you, I am a terror for not washing out paintbrushes and I buy stuff I don't need at the car boot sale. The low prices go straight to my head. Make me feel like I'm a squillionaire. Loadsamoney.